Ran initiated data collection

Abstract

According to certain embodiments, a method performed by a Radio Access Network, RAN, node includes transmitting a data collection request to a network control entity. The data collection request indicates a request to start data collection within a Radio Access Network, RAN. The method includes receiving a data collection response from the network control entity. The data collection response indicates whether the RAN can start the data collection procedure. In response to the data collection response indicating that the RAN can start the data collection procedure, the method includes transmitting a data collection configuration message initializing data collection by at least one User Equipment, UE.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method performed by a Radio Access Network, RAN, node, the method comprising:
 transmitting a data collection request to a network control entity, the data collection request indicating a request to start data collection within a Radio Access Network, RAN; 
 receiving a data collection response from the network control entity, the data collection response indicating whether the RAN can start the data collection procedure; and 
 in response to the data collection response indicating that the RAN can start the data collection procedure, transmitting a data collection configuration message initializing data collection by at least one User Equipment, UE. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data collection response received from the network control entity comprises one of:
 an acknowledgement, ACK, the ACK indicating that the RAN can start the data collection procedure; or 
 a negative acknowledgement, NACK, the NACK indicating that the RAN cannot start the data collection procedure. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data collection configuration message initializing data collection by the at least one UE is a Minimization of Drive Test, MDT, configuration message. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data collection configuration message initializing data collection by the at least one UE comprises a data collection configuration. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a data collection report from the at least one UE. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising performing an internal operation of the RAN based on information received in the data collection report. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising forwarding the data collection report to the network control entity. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 including in the data collection request a request for the network control entity to provide a data collection configuration. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a data collection configuration from the network control entity. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the data collection configuration is received in the data collection response from the network control entity. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the data collection response comprises an Acknowledgement, ACK, and a data collection configuration, the data collection configuration received via dedicated signaling from the network control entity to the RAN node. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining one or more data collection preferences of the RAN node, wherein each data collection preference comprises at least one of a configuration requirement and a parameter configuration that the RAN node prefers to use for the data collection within the RAN; and 
 including the one or more data collection preferences in the data collection request. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more data collection preferences comprise one or more of:
 a specific UE, a group of UEs, and a type of UE for which the RAN node requests to configure data collection; 
 a specific UE, a group of UEs, and a type of UE for which the RAN node requests UE consent for configuring data collection; 
 one or more geographical areas for which the radio network node requests to configure data collection; 
 at least one of a starting time, duration, periodicity, and repetition pattern of data collection; and 
 one or more types of measurements to be collected. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a data collection configuration that the RAN node prefers to use for the data collection within the RAN; and 
 wherein the data collection request indicates the data collection configuration that the RAN node prefers to use for the data collection within the RAN. 
 
     
     
       15. A Radio Access Network, RAN, node, the RAN node comprising:
 power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the RAN node; and 
 processing circuitry configured to:
 transmit a data collection request to a network control entity, the data collection request indicating a request to start data collection within a Radio Access Network, RAN; 
 receive a data collection response from the network control entity, the data collection response indicating whether the RAN can start the data collection procedure; and 
 in response to the data collection response indicating that the RAN can start the data collection procedure, transmit a data collection configuration message initializing data collection by at least one User Equipment, UE. 
 
 
     
     
       16. A method performed by a network control entity, the method comprising:
 receiving a data collection request from a Radio Access Network, RAN, node, the data collection request indicating a request to start data collection within a RAN; 
 determining whether the RAN can start the data collection procedure; and 
 transmitting a data collection response from the network control entity to the RAN node, the data collection response indicating whether the RAN can start the data collection procedure. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the data collection response transmitted to the RAN node comprises one of:
 an acknowledgement, ACK, the ACK indicating that the RAN can start the data collection procedure; or 
 a negative acknowledgement, NACK, the NACK indicating that the RAN cannot start the data collection procedure. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving a data collection report that the RAN node has forwarded from at least one UE performing the data collection procedure; and 
 performing an operation of the network control entity based on information received in the data collection report. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the data collection request received from the RAN node comprises a request for the network control entity to provide a data collection configuration and the method further comprises:
 determining a data collection configuration; and 
 providing the data collection configuration to the RAN node. 
 
     
     
       20. A network control entity, the network control entity comprising:
 power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the network control entity; and 
 processing circuitry configured to:
 receive a data collection request from a Radio Access Network, RAN, node, the data collection request indicating a request to start data collection within a RAN; 
 determine whether the RAN can start the data collection procedure; and 
 transmit a data collection response from the network control entity to the RAN node, the data collection response indicating whether the RAN can start the data collection procedure.